Multiple-unit safety-switchboard



H. F. KRANTZ.

MULTIPLE UNIT'SAFETY SWITCHBOARD.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJ, I9I7.

Patented June 8, 1920.

A Arron/vn H. F. KRANTZ.

MULTIPLE UNIT SAFETY SWITCHBOARD. APPLICATION FILED Aua.2. 1911.

Patented June 8, 1920'.

I 8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ff@ I L; Ano/mfr H. F. KRANTZ.

MULTIPLE UNIT SAFETY lSWITCHBOARD.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-2, 1917.

Patented'J une 8, 1920.

8 SHtETS-SHEET 3- H.I F. KHANTZ. MULTIPLE UNIT SAFETY SWITCHBUARD. APPLicAUoN FILED Aue.2, 1917.

1,342,546, Patented June 8, 1920.

s @ff 4 df H. F. KRANTZ.

MULTIPLE UNIT SAFETY SWITCHBOARD.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.2. I9I7.

1,3425546, Patented June 8, 1920.

8 SHtElS-SHEET 5.

W//l//l//////////// l,H. F. KRANTZ.

MULTIPLE UNIT SAFETY` SWITCHBOARD.

APPLICATION EILED AUG.21 I9I7.

Patented June s, 1920.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6- .By mw.

H. F. KR'ANTZ.

MULTIPLE UNITv SAFETY SWITCHBOARD. APPLicATloN man AUG.2,1917.'

1,342,546. PatentedJune 8, 1920. Y'

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7. @la .3* 9

f6 Q7 ,.0 25 J f wg 7 f5 l/ f2 gli f Q6 f f5 lm. ZZ O C) 5 y e Y Q e0 1 0 Q -l w ff 9 2539 w J7 5 55Y ATTORNEY H. F. KRANTZ.

MULTIPLE UNIT SAFETY SWITCHBOARD.

APPLCATION FILED AUG-2, 1917. 1,342,546. PatentedJune 8, 1920.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

M Q m m u T u UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUEERT F. VKRAN'rz, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AssieNoR 'ro KRANTz MANUFAC- frURING COMPANY, INO., OE BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OE NEW YORK.

` MULTIPLE-UNIT SAFETY-SWITCI-IBOARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1920.

Application filed August 2, 1917. SeriaI No. 184,011.

a switch board comprising a plurality of independently operable switch units, jeach being mounted upon the board so thatv it may be readily inserted or removed, for repairs, or otherwise, without interfering with the Operation of any of the other units.

vA further object is to provide safety features `in association with 'the respective units.

A 'more detailed object is to provide a switch board having bus bars traversing it and having a plurality of stalls or pockets formed adjacent the bus bars, and to provide independently operable switch units adapted to be arranged in said stalls in cooperative relation with the bus bars.

A further detailed object is to construct the switch units so that they provide a barrier intervening between a fuse compartment and the bus bars, and further, to provide a removable guard member for the fuse compartment, together with means for preventing removal -of the guard member while there is current in any of the parts within the fuse compartment.

A further object is to provide improved means whereby the main line wires may be led into the bus bars, and whereb the branchline wires may be led in to t e respective switch compartments or stalls, from various lateral directions, and further to .provide simple means'whereby the branch line wires may be exposed and readfacilitating such work thereon as may be required at any time.

A further object is to provide a new and improved mechanism associated with the switch blades for governing the operation thereof in accordance with the` position of the guard member, and, inversely, to'govern the position of the guard member in acl cordance with l the position of the switch blades. f

A further object is to provide means whereby a plurality ofswitch boards may be connected side byside in any number so as to comprise onelarge switch board made up of a pluralityof sections, and to so construct the sections that ample wire channels are provided between .adjacent sections through which. channels the branch line wires may lead to the adjacent switch stalls' at opposite sides of the channels, and

`further, to provide means whereby the main line bus bars may beiproperly and easily l connected from one section to another.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less speciic-than those referred to above, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the. course of the following description vof the elements, combinations, arrangements Ofwparts and applications of principles, constituting the invention; and the scope vof protection contemplated will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as -a part of this specification,

and in which I have shown merely a preferred form of embodiment of the invention.: 'n-a Figure l is a rear elevational view of a switch board constructed in accordancewith this .1nvent1on.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the major portion of the switch board of Fig. 1 showing one of the switch units in position to be moved into its respective stall.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational View of a part of the structure shown in Fig. 1, enlarged to show the details of construction of one of the'stalls, together with the `arrangement of parts of the switch unit in position therein, the guard members, or doors, for

U -the stalls being removed and a portion of lily lifted out of their appointed positions or f the switch unit lbein broken away and shown -in section to be er disclose its -construction.

'F ig. 4 isa vertical `transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane oi line IV of Fig. 3, the parts of the switch mechanism being shown in the on position and the door being shown closed.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a por tion of the structure of-Fig. 4 showing the position of the parts when the switch is in the olf position, with the door yet closed.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic View showing parts of Fig. 5 as they appear when the door is open.l

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view t ken substantially upon the plane of line VI of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon theu plane of line VIII of Fig. 4, the parts vof the switch mechanism being in the on position. V v

Fig. 9 is a similar sectional view showing the parts of Fig. 8 with the switch mechanism in the off position and the door open.

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view taken substantially upon the plane of line- X of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of the connecting link which extends from the view illustrating a modification of the manner of mounting one of the fuse clips.

Referring to the drawings for describing in detail the particular structure which is illustrated therein, the reference character L indicates the main or base board or face plate. This may be made up of two separate layers as shown, for convenience and neatness in mounting the parts which are fixed thereto, or it may be made as a single plate, if desired.

Two sets yof bus bars, as 1 and 2, are fixed to the rear surface of the board or plate L, all in parallel relation and extending very tically of the plate.

At the opposite vertical edges of the plate are arranged branch line wire channels 3. These extend approximately throughout the height of the plate and each is formed by a pair of wall members 4 and 5, which are arranged at right angles to the'rear surface of the face plate spaced apart and connected to the face plate by means of a bracket 6.

The brackets 6 may be fixed to the face plate in any suitable manner as by means of the bolts 7 The forward vertical edges of the walls 4 and 5 are fixed to the outer surfaces of the flanges of the brackets. The rear vertical edges of the walls 4 are formed with outwardly turned flanges 8 and the rear vertical edges of the walls 5 are formed with inwardly turned flanges 9 which lap the flanges 8.

The walls 4 may be connected to the brackets 6 in any desired manner, as by the rivets 10. The walls 5 are intended to be removable at will when desired to give access to the channels 3 and for this purpose they are preferably connected to the brackets 6 and to the flanges 8 by means of screws 11.

An intermediate partition wall 12 is also provided at the rear of the face plate, projecting at right angles to the face plate and substantially midway between the walls 4 and between the sets of bus bars 1 and 2.

The space between the partition wall and either of the walls 4 may be divided vertically by any number of horizontal partitions 13 so as to divide said space into a desired number of superposed pockets or stalls. In the drawing three such stalls are shown at each side of the partition wall. Each stall is closed at the rear by a separate guard member or door G and each stall is adapted to removably contain an independently formed and independently operable switch unit. In Fig. 2 one such unit, as H, is shown, detached and in position to be inserted in its respective stall.

The switch units each comprise a base plate or board 14. This board is preferably of insulating material, such as slate, and when the unit is inserted into the stall, it stands substantially parallel with the rear surface of the face plate but spaced away from said surface so as to constitute a barrier within the stall for the bus bars so that said bus bars may not be carelessly touched by an operator when the door is open. At the rear surface of the board or barrier 14 are arranged suitable fuse clips 15 and 16 for retaining fuses 17. At the forward face are provided contact members 18 for the switch blades 19. The contact members 18 are arranged opposite to the adjacent main line bus bars, as 1, and there is, of course, one switch blade for each bus bar and one contact 18 for each switch blade. The contacts 18 are electrically connected with the fuse clips 15 preferably by means of bolts 20 which extend through the board 14 to hold the fuse clips and contact members in position. `The fuse clips 16 are carried b v plates 21 to which the branch line terminals 22 may be connected as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The switch blades 19 are supported in an elongated carrier 23. This carrier lis pivoted to rock about its longitudinal axis, suitable extensions 24 being provided at its opposite ends to engage within bearings formed in supporting plates 25. The blades are spaced apart along the length of the carrier and project laterally therefrom.

They are insulated from each other as by means of! the insulatingv strips 26. The blades are double ended so in on position their opposite ends simultaneouslyengage the bus bars l1 and the contact members 18 res ectively.

he supporting plates 25 are carried by the board 14 by means of bracket plates 27. These plates 27 arel arranged one at each edge -of the board and at rlg'ht angles to the plane of the board. They are fixed to the board by means of bolts or rivets 28 which extend through the board and through portions 29 of the' platesk which arer bent at right angles and rest against the forward surface of the board. The supporting plates 25 lare riveted, or otherwise secured to the inner surfaces 'of the plates27 and extend indicated. Y

Of course, it will be understood that'any other suitable means may be employed for connecting the supporting plates 25 with the board 14. The only requirement in this connection is that the supportingplaltes and,all of the parts carried thereby shall be in turn carried by the board 14 so as to be bodily insertible into the stall, and

. bodilv removable'rfrom the stall with the boar 14. The, board 14 may be considered as a frame or carrier for the switch mecha nism, contacts, and fuse clips, by means of which all of said parts may be readily arranged in proper coperative position withv the bus bars. v

IWhen movinga switch unit into position within a stall it issimply vnecessary torest the board upon the horizontal partition 13 forming the bottom wall of the stall and,

ends to the central partition-12 and, they are suiicientlywide so `as to project above and below the adjacent horizontal partiv tions 13.

The p osition ofthe cross members-30 is such, with respect to the rear surface of the face plate L, as to properly andl positively `determine .the position of the for- I vward face of the board 14 with respect to the bus bars 1 when the boards are movedhome against said 'cross members. The

switch blades and the contacts 18. are like-i wise properly positioned by the cross members at the same time.

The cross members maybe formed integrally with the vhorizontal partitions 13, if

. The rear ed forwardly beyond the board A14 as clearly 37 Vin convenlent osltions adjacent the tervbers 38 so as to desired, but preferably they are formed as separateelements and are connected together by means pf an 4angle bracket 34. sof the horizontal partitions 13 are preerably turned downwardly asat 35 to form suitable abutments for the doors G, and are supported from the walls 4 and the centralpartition by angle brackets 36. 1

Preferably the horizontal partitions 13 are arranged at somewhat of anincline, as clearly shown in' Fig. 4, so as not to be serviceable for supporting foreign parts ,which ma "be carelessly laid thereon unintentiona ly. Short circuiting of any of the current-carrying parts is thus guarded against. v

In order 'to providepassage for the branch line wires through the walls 4 into the respective stalls, portions of said walls 4 are cut away at each stall -to provide openings i backwardlyl out of the openings, thus fa- `c ilitatingV the 4operation -of applying the terminal members 22, or for other purposes.

Theupper and lower edges of the openings 37 are fitted with vcurved guard memprevent likelihood of abrasion of the wires.

' The construction of the switch mechanism, 100 and its manner of control, includesfa; bellcrankwhich is pivotally mounted, as at 39,

vupon the outer supporting plate 25.A This bell-crank is preferably ymade up of two plates, as 40 and 41, spaced apart. At the 105 end of one of the arms a link 42 is pivotally mounted between the platesl 404 and 41 and extends into pivotal connection with' the switch blade carrier 23, the pointof connection with the switch blade carrier being at one side of the pivotal axis, as at 43. The bell-crank and the link 42 constitute la togv gle by means'of which to swing the switch blades to on and oft positions.

An operating rod 44 extends between the 115 plates 40 and 41 and has slot connection with a cross pin 45 at the remaining end of the bell-crank. This operati-ng rod extends forwardly 'through an opening 46 formedin the face plate and is pivotally connected, 1'20 as at 47, to an operating handle 48. The operating handle is pivotally mounted, ata point spaced from. the pivot 47, yas at 49,"so as to serve as acrank to move 'the rod backwardly and forwardly. when the operating 12'5 Ainto a verticalor on position, the rod 44, 'swings the bell-crank and straightens the toggle soasto hold the 'switch blade on as 130 shown in Fig; 4. On the other hand, when the handle is thrown down into off position, the rod 44 is moved backwardly so that the end wall 50 of its -slot engages the cross pin 45 and swings the bell-crank to break the toggle and permit the switch blade to snap into the off position as shown in Fig. 5. j y

A coil spring 51 is arranged at the opposite end of the carrier, in engagement between the carrier and the adjacent supporting plate 25 so as to exert a continual tendency to move the carrier into the off position, the slot` in the rod 44 providing for an unobstructed movement of the toggle into off position once the toggle is broken.

In order to prevent the guard member or 'door G from being opened while the vswitch is lon said door is preferablymounted on hinges 52 adjacent the rear edge of the wall 4 and a link 53 is pivotallyconnected thereto as by a pin 54 carried by a stud 55 fixed to the door. The stud supports the pin 54 at a point removed from the axis of the hinge. This link is `lshaped substantially as shown in F ig. 11 and at its inner end it carries a lug 56 which slides backwardly and forwardly alonga slot 57 formed in the adjacent plate 25 whenever the door is opened or closed. A transverse head 58 is formed at the outer end of the lug to prevent accidental detachment of the lug from the'slot. The plate 41 of the bell-crank above described is renlarged and is provided with an arcuate slot 59 through which the lug 56 eX- tends, the plate 41 being interposed between the plate 25 and the link 53. One end of the slot 59 terminates in a radial extension slot 60. When-the bell-crank is in the on position, the lug. 56 stands at one end of the arcuate slot 59- and the engagement of the walls' of this slot with the lug prevents the Alug from moving outwardly along Athe slot 57 and thus, ofcourse,- prevents the door from being opened. So long as the door is closed thebell-crank may be swung freely, the lug being accommodated by the arcuate slot. When the bell-crankis in the 0H position the extension slot 60 vwill stand in parallelism withthe slot 57, and the door may then be opened at will, the lug 50 traveling along the length of the two slots, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

After the lug 56 has moved into the slotl 60, said lug'serves as a positive stop against vreturn rotation of the plate 41, thus locking the switch mechanism inthe `offA position whenever the-door is open.

The free edges of the sets of doors at opposite sides of the central partition 12 are separated byan extension strip 61 which preferably projects outwardly from between said doors -a sufficient .distance to allow a slight opening movementv of 7the door without giving access into the space behind the door. This will take care of any inaccurac1esor looseness offered between the parts connecting the door with the switch mechastops 62 for the free edge of the door, said partition is preferably made of a pair of plates spaced apart with the strip 61 fixed between their rear edges, The edges are spaced away from the rear surface of the face plate so as to provide for a free circulation of air from one side of the central partition to the other andv said rear edges are connected to the face plate by means of a series of rods or bars 63 which have a portion 64 extending between and lfixed to the partition plates.

The horizontal partitions 13 likewise are yspaced away from the rear surface of the face plate so as to provide for a free circu- .lation of air vvertically from oneswitch mechanism` to the other.

It' will .be seen that by means of this construction the rear surface of the face plate is divided off into a number of well ventilated stalls, each having its independently operable, independently attached, and independently removable switch unit, that each stall is guardedl by an independent guard member, and that each switch unit includes a barrier spaced back of the door providin ,a safe fuse compartment and ai guarde switch compartment, that the door to the fuse compartment, may not be opened except when the fuse terminals are dead, and that the switch may not be moved to the on position to render the fuse terminals live except wherthe door is closed. A

When it is desired to remove one of the switch units it is simply required to throw the switch off, open` the door, remove the screws 31 and disconnect the link 53 and rod 44 from the door and switch handle, and,

then lift the switch unit away where it may7 be conveniently operated upon to any extent and then as readily returned.

The operating rod 44- preferably moves through a supporting member 65 provided upon the plate 25, an' the object of this supporting member is to retain the rod in a substantially lhorizontal position when the switch vunit is detached, as shown in Fig. 2, thusv facilitating vthe proper and easy entrance of the rod into the aperture 46 of the face plate L when moving the switch. unit into-a stall.

The link 53 may -be disconnected from-the forward door by simplyl liftin out the pin 54 which is preferably provide with a removable cotter pin,l 66 for this purpose. When .the link' dropsfj'downwardly into a vertical position its ,head1 58 will then register with the slot 57 and may be readilyl disconnected if dej sired.

The operating rod 44 may be easily disconnected from the switch handle 48 in the manner suggested in Figs. 12 and 13. This includes first the removal of the pivot pin 49 thus allowing the operating handle to drop so that the pivot pin 47 falls below the lower edge of the bracket plate 67.Q The pivot pin 47 may then be readily slid out. Until the pivot pin 49 was withdrawn the pivot pin 47 was held against displacement by the opposing bracket plates between which it moved.

It will be apparent also that the branch line wires may lead into the channels 3 at any point along thelength of the walls 5 or they may lead into the channels 3 directly into the top or bottom ends of said channels.

The main line wires may likewise lead into connection with the bus bars either from above or below o r from either side. Preferably connecting bus bars'68 are provided at either the upper or lower ends of the main bus bars for connecting the two sets of bus bars together, and the main line wires .lead into connection with these connecting bus bars from any direction.

lVhen it is desired to provide a very large switch board several of the sections shown in Fig. 1 may be set side by side and connected together as suggested by the sectional lview of Fig. 14. In making the connectionv the outer wall members 5 of the channels 3 are removed and a single'cover plate 69' bridges between the adjacent plates 4, thus making an attractive and substantial connection between the sections and at the same time providing a double size channel for the branch line wires which now will lead therealong and in the opposite directions to the adjacent stalls at opposite sides of the channel. The .brackets 6 to which the walls 5 are connected are now connected together by bolts 70.

The guard doors G forall of the sections may be iitted with spring catches 71 arranged to engage within openings 7 2 formed in the strip 61.

In the modification Fig. 15 a simple expedient is illustrated by means of whichthe contacts 18 at the rear face of the board 14,

and the plates for carrying the fuse clips 15 Y may be made as an integral element instead `mechanisms mounted thereon, means carriedby the board forming an inclosure for said mechanisms, parts also carried by the board providing inclose'd wire channels at opposite sides of the said mentioned inclosure, said board being adapted to be assembled with other similar boards arranged edge to edge, and said last mentioned parts of adjacent wire channels of abutting boards being removable to provide a common wire channel of increased size between the abutting boards, together witha separate member adapted for connecting together said abutting boards and for closing said enlarged wire channel. l 4. A switch board structure comprising in combination a base board, means forming a plurality of independent stalls at one side of the base board, a plurality of independently formed and independently operable switch units removably contained one within each of said stalls, and a bus bar' vtraversing said stalls with'which the switch mechanisms `directly coperate.

'5. A switch board structure comprising incombination a base board, a plurality of vswitch units carried by the base board, each of said switch units comprising fuse clips,-

switch blades and switch blade operating mechanism all constructed as an entity Aand being'bodily attachable and removable from the base board, means providing stalls upon the base board to receive said switch units, and means providing wire channels communicating with said stalls.

6. A switch board comprising a base board, a plurality of switch units carried by the base board, each of said switch units comprising fuse clips, switch blades and switch blade operating mechanism all constructed as an entity and being bodily attachable and removable from the base board, bus bars carried by the base'board, means defining an inclosure within which all of said switch units -are contained, and

Ameans within'said inclosure supporting the switch units with the switch blades thereof in cooperative relation with said bus bars.

7. A switch board comprising a base board, a plurality of switch units carried by the base board, each of said switch units comprising fuse clips, switch blades and switch blade operating mechanism all constructed as an entity and being bodily attachable and removable from the base board, bus bars carried by the base board, means defining an inclosure within which all of saidswitch units are contained, means defining stalls within the inclosure one for each switch unit, and the parts defining said stalls being spaced away from the surface of the base board so as to permit free circulation of air within the inclosure over the surface of the base board.

8. A switch board comprising a base board, a pluralityof switch units carried by the base board, each of said switch units comprising fuse clips, switch blades and switch blade operating mechanism all constructed as an entity and being bodily attachable and removable from the base board, means defining an inclosure upon the basel board within which said switch units are contained, 4means dividing the inclosure into stalls one for each switch unit, and the inclosure including an independently operable guard door for each stall.

9. A switch board comprising a base board, a plurality of switch units carried by the base board, each of said switch units comprising fuse clips, switch blades and switch blade operating mechanism all con-` structed as an entity and being bodily attachable and removable from the base board, means defining an inclosure upon the base board within which all of said switch units are contained, cross partitions within the inclosure dividing the inclosure into a plurality of stalls one for each switch unit, a guard door for each stall, and one of said partitions comprising a common abutment `member for said doors.

10. A-switch board comprising a base board, a plurality of switch units carried by the base board, each of said switch units comprising fuse clips, switch blades and switch blade operating mechanism all constructed as an entity and being bodily attachable and removable' from the base board, means defining an inclosure upon the -base board within which all of said switch units are contained, vertical and horizontal partitions arranged within said inclosure dividing the inclosure into a plurality of stalls one for each switch unit, the inclosure including doors for said stalls, and the horizontal partitions being arranged at an incline for the purpose described.

11. A switch board made up of a plurality of independent board sections connected to- 'gether, two abutting board sections, each having means defining a wvire-receiving' space extending along the length of its respective series of swltch mechanisms along which space wires may pass to the respective switch mechanisms, and said space of said two mentioned abutting board sections being shaped to coperate with each other to provide a common enlarged wire channel between the two mentioned abutting board sections.

12. A switch board made of a base board, conductors mounted in close proximity to one side of said base board, means forming a plurality of independent stalls at the same side of the base board, a plurality of: independently operable switch units one tor each of said stalls, each including a switch blade movable into and out of engagement with the conductor for deriving current therefrom, and supporting means for supporting the switch units within the stalls, said supporting means being of a character to permit ready attachment and removal ot the switch units into and out of position enabling engagement of the conductor by the switch blade. n

13. A switch board comprising a base board, a bus bar supported and fixed to one surface of the base board, means forming a plurality of independent compartments upon the same surface of the base board and extending side by side along the bus bar so that the bus bar traverses all of' the compartments, a plurality of switch units one Jfor each compartment, and means for removably supporting the switch units in the compartments in positions wherein they are adapted for making and breaking electrical connection with the portions of the bus bar traversing the respective compartments.

14. A switch board comprising a baseboard, a bus bar extending along one surface of therbase board, means defining a plurality of independent compartments along the length of the bus bar so that the bus bar traverses all of said compartments, a plurality of independent switch units one for each compartment adapted for deriving current from the portions of the bus bar traversing the respective. compartments, means defining the compartments upon the base board constituting supports for the switch units, and means whereby the switch units are readiy attachable to and removable from said supports.

15. A switch board comprising a plurality of independent board sections connected together, each board section having independently operable mechanism carried thereby, adjacent portions of two abutting board scctions being shaped to provide a wire channel between them, and a member forming a part ofthe wire channel serving to hold thel two board sections together. 16. A switch board comprising a hase board, a group of switch units at one side of the base board, each comprising fuse clips, a switch blade, and switch blade operating mechanism 'all constructed to be handled as an entity, means forming Ywire channels upon the base board at opposite sides of 'said group of switch units, shelves extending between said wire channel forming means, said shelves constituting supports for the switch units, and means/whereby the switch units are bodily attachable to and removable from said shelves. l

17. A switch board comprising a base board, a bus bar extending along one surface of the base board, a group of switch units at one side of the base board each comprising fuse clips, a switch blade, and switch blade operating mechanism all constructed to be handled as an entity, `means orming wire channels upon the base'board at' opposite sides of said group of switch units, shelves extending between said wire channel forming means, said shelves constituting supports for the switch units,I and means whereby the switch units are bodily attachable to and removable from said shelves at will, said shelves being disposed so as to support the switch units with the switches thereon in cooperative relation with the adjacent portions of the bus bar.

18. A safety -switch board comprising a plurality of fuse clip supporting plates, fuse clips carried by said plates lat one side thereof, switch contacts electrically connected with said fuse clips, a plurality of switches one for each of said plates operable to move into and out of engagement with the switch contacts, bus bars extending common to saidi` switches, means to operate said switches, a guard wall standing to guard said fuse clips collectively, said guard wall comprising a plurality of displaceable doors one for each of said /fuse'clips supporting plates, said switch contacts and switches being mounted upon the respective fuse placed.

20. A safety switch board mechanism including a pluralit of switches, a protecting wall for said switches, comprising a pluralitl of independently displaceable doors one or each of said switches, conductors extending commonfto` said switches, fuse retaining parts and branch line` contacts asso- ;ciated with said switches, supporting meansy arts and branch- `for said fuse retaining line contacts arranged intermediate said doors and said switches and supportingfsaid fuse supporting parts at its side adjacent the door and supporting said branch line contacts at its side remote from the door, said supporting means constituting barriers between the doors and the switches, and said supporting means constituting also together with the switches, the fuse retaining parts and the branch line contacts a single entity removably supported.

21. A -switch board comprising a supporting member, means carried-by the supporting member defining a plurality of independent casings upon one side of the sup-- porting member, a plurality of independent switch units one for each casing, means for independently removably supporting the switch units within the respective casings, each switchy unit comprising a movable switch blade, independent operating means for the switch blades extending exteriorly ersing said casings having portions spaced apart in its length. and exposed to said switch blades with which theswitch bladesl coperate for closing a circuit including the vbus bar and the switch blades.

clips supporting plates to be handled as omova'blc. switch .units one'for each casing,

an entity therewith, and means whereby said entities are individually removably.

mounted. v

19. A safetyswitch board mechanism in-` cluding va plurality of switches, a protectf .ing wall ,for said switches comprising a plui rality of independently displaceable doors fr parts and7^ the respective switches and being Y the doors are displaced, and holding means of a character to guard the switches when( removably retaining said supporting means in position, said holding means being nmeans extending exteriorly of the respective casings for actuating the respective switch units, and a bus bar traversing said casings havingportions spaced apart in its length and exposed within'the respective casings with whichthe switch mechanisms are adapted to coperate.

.A '23. A switch board comprising a supporting member, means connected with the sup- Lporting member defining a plurality of independent casings at one side of the supporting member, a plurality of independently removable switch units one for each casing, each switch unit having a part adapted when inposition within the casing to divide thecasing into a switch compartment and a fuse compartment.' l

. 24. A switch board comprising a vsupporting member, means connected with the supporting member defining a plurality ofindeof therespective casings, and a bus bar travico pendent casings at one-side of the supporting member, a plurality of independently removable switch units one for each easing, each switch unit having a part adapted when in position within the casing to serve as a partition member for dividing the casing into two compartments, each switch unit comprising also a switch mechanism sup# ported at one side of said partition member adapted to stand within one of said compartments and comprising fuse clips supported at the opposite side of'said partition member adapted to stand within the other compartment, together with operating means for the respective switch mechanisms.

25. A switch board comprising a supporting members, means connected with the sup porting member defining a plurality of independent casings at one side of the supporting member, a plurality of independently removable switch units one for each casing, each switch unitbeino of a character such that when in position within the casing it will divide the casing into two compartments containing different parts of the switch unit.

26. A switch board comprising a base board, a pairgof wall members carried by the base board, projecting at right angles from the surface thereof adjacent the opposite marginal edges of the base board, a third wall member arranged between said two mentioned wall members, substantially parallel thereto and at right angles to the mentioned surfacefof the base board to divide the space between said two mentioned wall members into two compartments, two sets of bus bars carried at the mentioned surface of the base board also extending substantially parallel to the first two mentioned walls, one set in each of said compartments, a plurality of switch mechanisms in each compartment spaced apart along the length of the respective bus bars, and 'means providing inclosed branch line wire channels beyond said first two mentioned walls along which channels branch line wires may lead into connection with the respective switch mechanisms through openings formed in said first two mentioned walls.

27. A' switch board comprising a base board, a plurality of switch units carried by the base board, each. of said switch units comprising fuse clips, switch blades and switch blade operating mechanism all constructed as an entity and being bodily attachable and removable from the base board, bus bars carried by thebase board, and means to support said switch units with the switch blades thereof in coperative relation with said bus bars.

28. A switch board comprisingr a base board, a plurality of switch units carried by the base board, each of said switch units comprising fuse clips, switch blades and switch blade operating mechanism all constructed as `an entity and being bodily attachable and removable from the base board, bus bars carried by the base board, means defining a plurality of stalls upon the base board one for each switch unit, and said stalls including parts to which the switch units are directly connected, said parts being adapted to support the switch units with the switch blades of said units in proper coperative relation with the bus bars.

29. A switch board comprising a base board, a plurality of switch units carried by the base board, at one side thereof, means supporting the switch units in position, a switch 'operating handle arranged at the opposite'side of the base board for one of said switch units, said switch unit including a connecting rod which extends through an opening in the base board to said operating handle, means whereby said switch unit is bodily attachable and removable from its supporting means, and said switch unit including further means for supporting the connecting rod in a position to readily enter the opening through the base board as said switch unit is being moved into connection with its supporting means.

,30. A switch board comprising a base board, live contact members carried at one surface thereof, means defining aninclosure for said live contact members, said means including a guard door, a barrier supported parallel with the base board spaced therefrom between the live contact 'members and the door so as to protect the live contact members when the door is open, fuse clips arranged between the barrier and the door being readily accessible when the door is open, a switch mechanism arranged between the barrier and the contact members being electrically connected with the fuse clips and being adapted to coperate with the bus bars, and operating means for the switch mechanism extending lto the opposite side of the base board. i

31. A switch board comprising a base board, live contact members carried at one surface thereof, means defining an inclosure for said live 4contact members, said means including a guard door, a barrier supported parallel with the base board spaced therefrom between the live contactv members and the door so as to protect the live Contact members when the door is open, fuse clips supported upon the face of the barrier between the barrier and the door' eratingr, means for the switch mechanism,

and vmeans whereby the barrier with its fuse clips and switch mechanism may be bodily removedl as an entity from said inclosure.

32. A switch board comprising a base board, bus lbars arranged at one side thereof, meansdefining an inclosure for said bus bars, a plurality of switch units arranged withinthe inclosure to coperate with the bus bars, means also within the in?V closure dividing the same intoa plurality of stalls one for each switch unit, the means defining the inclosure including a door for v the door so as to protect the bus bars when in the base board into connection with said the door is open, fuse clips supported upon the face of thebarrierbetween the bar.

rier "and the door and readily accessible when the door is open, a switch mechanism supported by the barrier between the barrier and the bus bars being electrically connected through the barrier with thefuse clips, operating means for the switch mechanism, and means whereby said switch unit may be bodily removed as an entity from said stall. l

38.'A switch board comprising a base board, bus bars carried by the base board at lthe rear side thereof, a lplurality of independently formed and independently operable switch units supported by the base board at the rear side thereof for coperlating with said bus bars, switch handles supported at the front side of the base board, operating meansv for` said switch units extending through openings formed switch handles, means whereby the operating means may bedisconnected vfrom the switch handles, and `means whereby the switch units maybe thereafter bodily disconnected from the base board.

34;. A switch boardv comprising a base board, a switch unit carried by the base board comprising a plate, a switch blade carried by the plate at one face thereof,

fuse supporting means carried by the plate at the opposite face thereof, and operating vmechanism for the switch blade, said plate,

said fuse supporting means, said switch blade, and said operating mechanism being all constructed yas an entity and being bodily attachable and removable from the base board.

35. A switch board comprising a 'base' board and a switch unit, said switch unit comprising a plate, comprising also a switch blade carried by the plate at one face thereof, and comprising also fuse sup- -porting means carried by the plate at the opposite face thereof, the base board having means providing an open-sided inclosure thereon to receive the switch unit, said inclosure forming means having parts to receive and support said. plate, retaining means connecting the plate within said inclosure forming means in position to constitute a barrier between the switch blade and the open side of said inclosure, and the retaining means being releasable to render the plate and the parts carried thereby constituting the switch unit bodily removable from the inclosure.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HUBERT F. KRANTZ. Witnesses:

SAML. L. WHITLooK, CHARLES W. HEssER. 

